John Vlismas

Location: Based in Johannesburg

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Artist Info

An award-winning comedian, John Vlismas is one of South Africa’s most creative, prolific international comics on the circuit.

While outspoken and sometimes controversial, Vlismas is a firm favourite in the corporate market, and spends over 80% of his stage time entertaining executives and their staff with tailored material, proving that he has the ability to adapt rapidly and appropriately for diverse audiences. He has scripted and performed for the FNB Life Start, SAB Brand Power national road shows, Arts Alive festival (anually) and regularly performs at his comedy club, The Comedy Underground, now SA’s longest running regular comedy event.

Some of his successful (and usually sold-out!) one-man comedy shows and tours have included POW (2009), Lucky Plebian (2008), the award-winning Gay, and Black & Immortal (2007), Whacked (2001), Grinder (a two-hander with Bevan Cullinan, 2001), Aggravated Assault (1999), Man in Black (1998), and Mr Ballistic (1997). He produced and headlined Have a Heart (HAH) in aid of Child Welfare Johannesburg in 2006, while in 2002, he hosted and co-produced the largest ever stand-up comedy event seen in South Africa, Laugh Out Loud; which played to 7000 people. Other performance highlights include being support act in Steven Wright’s South African tour, and performing for SA Tourism at the Sydney Art Museum in 2004. John also produced the South African leg of Henry Rollin’s world tours in 2007/8 and 2010

Services

Celebrity MC

Comedy routine

Facilitation

Awards & Distinctions

John won the inaugural SA Comedy Award for Stand Up of the Year, with his one-man show, Gay, Black & Immortal, in 2007

International Noteworthy Performances

Of the stand up comedians working the circuit in South Africa today, John has the widest international profile.

Shows in Dubai, 2006 and 2008

Performances in 2007 at Shady Okes in London and at the Bulmer’s Comedy Festival in Dublin

Appearance at The Comedy Store in London, 2005

Four trips to Canada, where he has played at Montreal’s Just for Laughs Festival and remains the only South African comedian to be invited to return three times, having impressed in Club Soda, Globecom and Bubbling with Laughter, and performing by invitation in the prestigious showcase Talk of the Fest with Drew Carey

Performance at Maulhelden Festival in Berlin, 2002

Participation in the Melbourne Comedy Festival, where he enjoyed a sold out run of 28 shows in the highly regarded Best of the Edinburgh Festival showcase, 2000

Media

WHAT THE CRITICS SAY:

The country’s most recognised comedianThe Sunday Times

…Arguably the best stand-up comedian in the country todayBongani Madondo, Daily News

Vlismas impressed with his smart political jokes…The Hollywood Reporter

South Africa’s John Vlismas was definitely the highlight. This comic’s understanding of punchy dialogue mixed beautifully with his occasional leaps into highly amusing physical humour, making for a delightfully balanced routine.Impress Magazine, Melbourne

Another delight was Barker’s cohort John Vlismas who delivered a high-energy stand-up set. A likeable, promising performer, Vlismas’ too-short set was an unexpected delight for the crowd who seemed to have come mostly for the more established Barker.
FOXTEL Magazine, Melbourne

John Vlismas is one of the country’s most outrageous, original and manic stand-up comedians.
Christina Kennedy, The Citizen

If John Vlismas can’t make you laugh, who can?
Jill de Villiers, The Citizen

Vlismas is very much the face of comedy in the new South Africa.
Pierre de Villiers, Time Out